Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-03-29
THE SKIES IN APRIL.
Movements of the Celestial Bodies Dur.
ing the Coming Month.

from the Providence Journal
Jupiter is morning star until the 21st, and after
that Zine evening star. On the 2lst, at O'Clock
in the morning our giant brother planet is In op-
position with the SUM- his only superior In the solar
system He Is as far away from him as possible,
and at his nearest point to the earth The oppo-
siton OF Jupiter is gala day for terrestrial OBJ
Servers for II Is the time when he takes on his
most superb aspect, the time when astronomers
hope by untirtng assiduity, to wrest from his IN
willing grasp some OF the secrets OF his physical
condition This privilege may be enjoyed on the
DIST not only at the time OF opposition but during
The whole month, for Jupiter is the most brilliant
star IN the celestial vault, with one exception
nom the commencement or April TO its close We
say, with one exception, but Venus on the twl-
light sky, though Larger and more fascinating is
not SO Srihd anu stately a. Jupiter Is the dark
DaekgIOund Oh the midnight sky. There is no need
OF pointing out Jupiter. Any observer who
watches the sout heast horizon about o'clock on
the Isl, viii behold his advent, shining like a
young moon. and claiming supremacy over the
surrounding stars.
Venus is evening star. She is so lovely an OBJ
jet Ia the glowing western twilight that it seems
almost Ike an Injustice to give her the second
place on the April record Jupiter, however,
reaches the elimination OF his course and Venus
VIII no1 reach her period OF greatest brilIiancy
until the 10Th OF August. Therefore she Is not on
the pinnacle OF her lame just now, but her charm
Ih5 presence Will grace the western sky till sum-
LheT Closes Al the beginning OF the month Jup-
yer rises about aalf hour before Venus sets. At
the end OF the month Jupiter is visible as soon as
Venus, shortly after sunset and the Two brightest
stars IN tine armament are seen together for more
Ihan Two hours, Jupiter rising In the east and
venus sinking Ia the west till she disappears be-
low the western horizon, and leaves her rival
without his peer
saturn is evening star. He forms the third
member of the planetary trio and although not as
brilliant as Jupiter and Venus, uniteS with them
IN adjoining the starlit sky OF April on the 9Th,
ats O'Clock In the evening" Saturn Is in Quadrature
ON the suns eastern side. He is then on the
meridian OF sunset, and makes fine appearance
Is soon it Is dark enough Tor the stars TO come
stars castor and folluX. 1t VIII be interesting 10
note the approach between Saturn and Venus,
iDr one OF these days they Will meet and pass each
other ON the 18th, at O'Clock in the morning,
saturn Is In conjunction with Delta Gem1nOruLl,
being at the time twelve minutes north OF the
star. The conjunction occurs when Saturn is be-
low the horizon, but planet and star are near
enough on the evening OF the Gath TO repay Care
Iul observation.
Mercury Is morning star throughout the month.
On the nth this swift Traveller among the stars
reaches his greatest western eIongation, being ~
degrees 20 minutes west OF the sun, or nearly at
his maximum distance. He is visible then and
Ior few days before and after as morning star.
Mars IS evening star until the oath, and then be-
comes morning star. His hitherto mOnOtOnouS
course Is diversified with an event. On the oath,
with the sun. His long career as evening star Is
ended and, passing TO the suns western side, he
commences his course as morning star. He will
De or little account during the present year, not
becoming visible till OCTOBER.
Uranus Is evening star. He continues in a favor.
able position for observation pursuing his retro
grade course 80 that on the .4lh he Is in conJunc
tion with the beautiful double star, Gamma Viz
ginio. passing degrees south The conjunction
VIII AFFORD an excellent opportunity for seeing
Uranus with the naked eye OF an opera glass.
Neptune Is the evening star. On the 18th he Is
In conjunction with Venus, already referred 10.
AT the close or the month Jupiter, Uranus, Saturn,
Venus and Neptune are evening stars; Mercury
and Mars are morning stars.
The April moon fullS on the Sth hour 80 min
uteS 1t Is the most important moon OF all the
year. for II Is the first 1ull moon after the vernal
equinox, and determines when Easter shall tall.
Easter Sunday In turn is the pivot on which hang
all the movable feaStS and 1aStS OF the Church.
our satellite, even if she be dead world, exer-
cisees In this way q powerful influence on human
affairs.
The sun IS now well established on our side OF
the equator and his northern defamation increases
every day, as well as his star above the horizon
and the power Cf his rays. The sun rises on the
1St at oh. 29rn. am, and sets at Oh lin. pm,
making the days length 12h. 42ln- On the Both
Ibe sun rises at Al Am ALL, and sets at Oh Aim.
pm, making the days length 14h. There Is,
therefore, an Increase OF In. Ism. in the days
length during the month. ON the 18th the day is
divided into TWO equh parts. the morning and
evening are exactly OF the same length, the mean
noOn and the apparent noon coincide. The suns
decLnation Increases rapidly. on the LIST his de-
chnation Is degrees 81 minutes north. On the
:Dth IL Is IA degrees 30 minutes north, showing
that the suns progress nOrJhward during the
month Is 10 degrees l3 minutes.